Method of converting mattes.



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RALPH BAGGALEY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF CONVERTING MATTES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,198, dated March 3, 1903.

Application filed January 8,1903. Serial No. 13 8,296. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH BAGGALEY, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Method of Converting Mattes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of my invention is to shorten and cheapen the converting of mattes of copper or copperin association with other metals, to save labor in the management of the converter, and to produce cleaner and better pig-copper than heretofore.

As the combustible elements are eliminated from copper matte in the converting process, the heat generated by oxidation produced by the air-blast diminishes until, near the end of the blow, the blast has achilling effect on the metal and produces solidified bodies of copper, commonly known as copper noses, at the twyers, so that atedious and expensive operation of punching must be resorted to in order to remove them. I have discovered that this may be obviated and other important advantages may be secured by supplying theconverter with a heatingflame derived, preferably, from burning jets of oil or gas or from a furnace or combustion-chamber communicating with the converter. This flame may be applied at or near the end of the converting operation, and it may be applied, though in much less degree, through the entire blow. In this way the heat of the converter charge is maintained, chilling of the metal is prevented, and the lessened proportion of heat-forming elements in the matte at the end of the blow is compensated by the extraneous heat of the flame.

I am aware that heretofore after relining converters or in starting converters it has been customary to place in them coal, wood, or coke, preferably the latter, and after igniting it to turn on a small amount of blast through the twyers, and thus dry the lining and warm the vessel before the work begins. I am also aware that in converting as at present practiced, particularly during the secondary stage of converting, it has often been found necessary to throw into the converter blocks of wood, which, igniting by contact with the molten copper or matte on which it floats, serves in a very imperfect way to preserve the heat of the molten bath sufficiently to enable the process to be completed. My invention diifers radically from these practices. It corrects the imperfect processes to which they have been applied and perform new and important functions.

In the practice of my invention I employ a converter of any suitable type provided with one or more oil or gas jet pipes or does of sufficient capacity to heat the interior of the converter to incandescence when desired and capable of regulation promptly and at will. In starting work before charging the converter with matte I first turn on the flame and heat the interior of the converter, preferably to incandesence. I then introduce the matte, turn on the converting-blast, and turn off or slacken the flame, which need not be again applied until by the oxidizing action of the blast the combustible elements of the matte have been nearly exhausted and the entering air begins to lower the temperature and to form copper noses at the twyers. At this stage of the process the-operation of punch ing has heretofore been begun; but at or shortly before the time when this stage is reached I turn on the flame, and thus quickly and thoroughly heat up the entire molten bath while the converting is still in progress, keeping it at such temperature that copper noses cannot form. The application of heat by the flame is continued and is regulated to secure the degree of heat required until the converting process is finished, and I then shut off the converting-blast and tilt the converter sufflciently to admit of skimming. The flamejets are directed toward the end spout of the converter and playing over the entire surface of the bath they drive all the skimmings and floating impurities to the end spout or pouring-lip, when they may be removed into a skimming pot or ladle, either by tilting the converter or by the use of hand-skimmers, thus leaving the surface of the bath clean and ready for pouring. The skimming is facilitated by throwing a few shovelfuls of pow dered charcoal into the converter at the end where the flame enters.

It will thus be seen that by my invention not only is labor saved by dispensing with the punching operation, but cheaper and very much cleaner pig-copper is produced from the converting process than heretofore.

I claim I 1. The method of converting copper which consists in supplying an air-blast beneath the surface of the bath, and applying extraneous heat of a flame to the surface; substantially as described.

2. The method of converting copper which consists in supplying an air-blast beneath the surface of the bath, and applying extraneous heat of a flame to the surface and regulating such flame; substantially as described.

3. The method of converting copper which consists in supplying an air-blast beneath the surface of the bath, and applying extraneous heat of a flame to the surface near the end of the converting operation, and maintaining RALPH BAGGALEY.

Witnesses:

JOHN MILLER, H. M. CoRWIN. 

